There are likely to be as many Hamiltons in Scotland as there are Sinclairs; obviously not all deriving from the same spawning ground.

‘But who, then, was the first Hameldun or Hamelton who actually held lands and had thus settled in Scotland anterior to Walter FitzGilbert de Hameldun, the hitherto earliest discovered founder of the family? This may be a material preliminary to fixing their original ancestry, and, as it happens, is all in statu that we may be enabled to ascertain. The writer believes he can answer the preceding question by adduction of an original quit-claim by “Roger de Hameldun” of his right to a carrucate of land in Oxenham, in Roxburghshire, which held of the Crown of Scotland, to John, Abbot of Whitby, in Yorkshire. It is without date, but must have been between 1245 and 1258, when the latter can be proved to have been Abbot. The preceding we may conclude also to have been the “Roger de Hameldun,” who is established by other Whitby deeds to have possessed Geker in “Hamelton,” along with the woods of “Hamilton,” which formed a manor in Yorkshire and hence must have been the foyer of these Hamiltons

It hence follows that the first of the surname (for there is no prior notice of it there elsewhere) who had settled and actually held lands of the Crown in Scotland, was the preceding “Roger de Hameldun, “as proprietor of Oxenham”, in Roxburghshire, between 1243 and 1258; and, singularly, of an English family, who, precisely like the Scottish eventually, had an estate named Hamilton, and who, in Scotch parlance, might be styled the Hamiltons of that Ilk in Yorkshire. This Roger may have been cotemporary with the “Roger de Hameldun” already mentioned, who (with his brother Robert) test a deed, though only connected with Northumberland (Sir William Fraser suggested that Walter FitzGilbert belonged to a Northumbrian family – M.S), shortly after 1223, in the Chartulary of Melrose — a coincidence worth remarking, though not yet identified with him. The above, consistently with what was stated, is all that can as yet be safely offered touching the origin of the Anglo-Scot Hamiltons, we not being able to connect the same Roger or his kindred with the Walter Fitzgilbert de Hameldun in 1296, though they possibly enough — considering, too, the extreme rarity then of this English surname in Scotland — may have been related’ (John Riddell, Comments in refutation, p. 259, 1860).

1. Radulfus Paynel.
1.1. Foulques Paynel
1.1.1. Guillaume Paynel, in a judgement given in Rouen in 1113, was seized of the land of Raoul Tesson.
1.1.1.1. Foulques Paynel II. Gilbert d’ Avranches, brother of Richard, Viscount d’Avranches, had a daughter, Dyonisa, who married Hasculphe de Subligny. They had a son who bore the name of his grandfather, thus also Gilbert Avranches. His older sister, Lesceline, married Foulques Paynel II., in 1170, Foulques receiving the seigniories of Bricquebec, Gacé, Hambie, Bréhal, Fontenay-le-Paisnel, and Haye-Paisnel.
1.1.2. Ralph Paynel.
1.1.2.1. Jordan Paynel, alias Jordan de Hameldon. He is first recorded in 1166, as holding of Puiset (the Bishop of Durham) fees in Hameldon (Durham) and Osgodby near Selby, Yorks (EYC. ii. 320). In 1204, the manor of Osgodby (6 miles from Hamelton or Hameldon, near Selby) was held in demesne by Jordan de Hameldon, otherwise known as Jordan of Osgodby (E.Y.C. ii, p. 329). By 1223, it had passed to Jordan’s daughter Dyonesia, who married Sampson de la Pomeroy (Yorks. Fines, 1218-31, p. 54), and it subsequently passed to Adam of Osgodby (Burton, Hemingbrough, 305-6). (Pomeroy alias Chevreville; descendants of Roger de Chievre of La Pommeraie, in Calvados, arrondissement Falaise, canton Thury-Harcourt. In 1086, Ralf de Pomaria, in addition to his tenancies-in-chief, held among other under-tenancies lands in Devon and Cornwall of Robert Count of Mortain. In 1166, Henry de Pomereia, Ralf’s representative, held 30 fees of the old feoffment and 1 11/12 of the new. In the Norman “Infeudationes Militum” of 1172 under the heading ‘de honore Mortonii in eadem baillia’ (ie. Obertii de Hosa) is the entry ‘Henricus de Pomaria iij partm militis defeodo de Vado; et tenet castrum de Pomaria cum purpestura de Rege’.

The families of Paynel, Sourdeval, and Lacy had close tenurial ties in Avranches, relationships being paralleled in post-Conquest Yorkshire, near to the town of Selby. Under the Mortain fee, Ralph de Paynel held Hamelton (Selby) under Ilbert de Lacy; Ralph having married Ilbert’s sister or daughter (Clay,114). Ralph secondly married Matilda de Sourdeval, daughter of Ralph de Sourdeval (Thoresby), whose sister married Robert Brus II. of Skelton.

1.1.2.2. William Paynel.
1.1.2.2.1. Adam Paynel, alias Adam de Hameldon. (“The next of this name noticed is Adam Painell (alfo prefumed another fon of William Paganell and Julian Bahuntune, his wife); which Adam, the 6th of Richard I. paid twenty millings fcutage upon the king’s redemption, and married the widow of William Fitz-Williams fifter and coheir of Robert Bardulf, lord of Hoo, in Kent, and of caftle Carleton, in com. Lincs” (Banks). Adam de Hameldon or Hamelton, m. ‘a da. of Hugh Bardolf’ of Great Carlton and Hoo. Hugh Bardolf had five daughter who became co-heirs of their brother, Robert Bardolf, described as the uncle (avunculus) of Jordan Foliot, and Ralph Paynel (Excerpta e Rotulis Finium, p. 129), sons of Richard Foliot and Adam Paynel. Margery de Stuteville m. Richard Foliot of Norton, Fenwick, Grimston, and Wellow, who had married firstly a da. of Hugh Bardolf; her sister being the wife of Adam Paynel, etc.
1.1.2.2.1.1. Perhaps “Roger de Hameldun” of Mr. Liddell’s account.

1. Robert de Estuteville, lord of Cottenham, d. after 1107, m. Adeliza de Beaumont, da. of Ivo de Beaumont.
1.1. Robert de Stuteville, lord of Cottenham, d. after 1116.
1.1.1. Robert de Stuteville, Sheriff of Yorkshire, d 1183, m. Hawise Murdac.
1.1.1.1. Robert de Stuteville, m. Sybil de Valognes, da. of Philip de Valognes. Gilbert Hansard m. a sister of Robert de Stuteville (fol. 23 Liber Vitae of Durham).
1.1.1.1.1. Helwis de Stuteville, m. Hugh de Morville.
1.1.1.2. William de Stuteville, m. Berta de Glanville, da. of Gerard de Glanville.
1.1.1.2.1. Nicholas de Stuteville, m. Gunnora de de Albini Brito, see hereinafter.
1.1.1.2.1.1. Nicholas de Stuteville, lord of Cottenham and Liddell, m. Devorgilla of Galloway, da. of Roland, lord of Galloway.
1.1.1.2.1.1.1. Joan de Stuteville, m. Hugh Bigod.
1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1. Joan Bigod, m. Sir Philip de Kyme, dapifer of Gilbert de Gand, son of William de Kyme and Lucy de Ros, da. of William de Ros, as follows.
1.1.1.2.1.2. William de Stuteville of Gressenhall, d. 1259, m. Margery de Say, da. of Hugh de Say.
1.1.1.2.1.2.1. Margery de Stuteville, m. Richard Foliot, of Norton, Fenwick, Grimston and Wellow, d. 1299, son of Robert Foliot.
1.1.1.2.1.2.1.1. Jordan Foliot, m. Margery de Newmarch, da. of Adam de Newmarch.

The king has committed to Richard Foliot the manors of Adam de Novo Mercato of Womersley (‘son of Adam’) Campsall, Thorp’, Bentley and Archsey in Yorkshire, which the king took into his hand because he (Richard) captured him (Adam) while Adam was resisting the king in hostile manner in the conflict that recently took place at Northampton, to keep for as long as it pleases the king. Richard Foliot’s Yorkshire properties included Norton, near Campsall and Walden Stubbs (‘Stubbs’). The early manor house lay a little to the north of the vill of Walden Stubbs, in the parish of Womersley.

1.1.1.2.1.2.1.1.1. Richard Foliot, of Gressenhall and Weasenham, b. 1283, died on the King’s service in Scotland between April 18 and July 23, 1317 (Rot. Pat. 10 Edward II., p.2, m. 20).
1.1.1.2.1.2.1.1.1.1. Margery Foliot, in 1330, had livery of her purparty of the lands of her grandmother, Margery de Newmarch.

1.1.1.3. Burga de Stuteville, m. (before 1171) William de Vesci, of Alnwick, d. 1184. –
1.1.2. Osmund de Stuteville.
1.1.2.1. Roger de Stutteville.
1.1.2.2. Alice de Stutteville, m. Roger de Merlay, son of Ralph de Merlay, Lord of Morpeth, Northumberland, and Juliana of Dunbar, dau. of Gospatric II. of Dunbar. Roger de Merlay and Alice de Stuteville had issue: Roger de Merlay, who m. Margery de Umframville, dau. of Richard Umframville, and sister of Gilbert de Umframville I.
1.1.2.3. Beatrice de Stuteville, m. William de Colville. (1. Gilbert de Gand I, overlord of the Armentieres family of Whatton. 1.1. Hugh de Gand, m. Adeline de Beaumont, dau. of Robert de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Leicester. 1.1.1. Robert de Gand, m. Gunnora de Albini Brito, da. of Ralph de Albini Brito (English Baronies’, I. J. Sanders, OUP, 2nd ed, 1963); she m. (2), Nicholas de Stuteville. A sister of Gunnora de Albini Brito, Maud, m. William de Colville (father of his namesake, aforementioned). William held one night’s fee of Robert de Gand in Lincs, his br.-in-law. William de Colville agreed to pay the king a fine of 20 mares and one palfrey, to have seisin of Normanton, Rutland, held in chief by the de Umframvilles. 1.1.1.1. Gilbert de Gand, Earl of Lincoln, obit. 1241, father of Juliana de Gand, who m. Geoffrey d’Armentières, son of Henry d’Armentières, descendant of Robert de d’Armentières).
1.1.2.3.1. Roger de Colville of Bytham Castle, Lincolnshire,
1.1.2.3.1.1. Walter de Colville, m. Elizabeth d’ Albini Brito, of Aubourn and Counthorpe, Lincs., da. of Odenel d’ Albini Brito, son of William d’Albini Brito I. and Matilda, da. of Odonel de Umframville. William d’Albini Brito’s sister, Maud d’ Albini Brito, m. Gilbert, 3rd Earl of Strathearn; their da., Ethne de Strathearn, m. David de la Haye, 2nd Laird of Erroll; their son, Glbert de la Haye, 3rd Laird of Erroll, m. Idonea Comyn,* of Buchan, da. of William de Comyn, 1st Earl of Buchan, and Margaret of Buchan, Countess Of Buchan. *Her brother, Alexander Comyn, had at least nine children with his wife, Elisabeth, da. of Roger de Quincy, 2nd Earl of Winchester, including Elisabeth Comyn, who m. Gilbert de Umfraville II., 1st Earl of Angus. (The de Quincey and Colville families were intermarried).
1.1.2.3.1.1.1. Roger de Colville, m. Margaret de Braose, da. of RIchard de Braose, whose br., William, m. Mary de Ros (da. of William de Ros, aforementioned); sister of Alice de Ros, who m. John Comyn (Lincoln Assize Rolls,’Lincoln N.& Q.’vol. ix., p. 250), whose cousin and namesake’s lands were given to Walter FitGilbert (de Hamilton).
1.1.2.3.1.1.1.1. Gilbert de Colville. The Writs of Military Service show (1292) Gilbertus Coleville performing military service in Scotland ‘due from Gilbertus de Neville’, his Kinsman, through the Merlays, and a man of the Gands in Lincolnshire.
1.1.2.3.1.1.1.1.1. Walter FitzGilbert (de Hamilton) first appears in January 10, 1295, as a witness to a charter by James, the High Steward of Scotland. Walter’s descendants bore gules, 3 cinque foils or. ‘The earliest representation of the Hamilton arms appears on the Bute Mazer were Gules, three cinquefoils ermine, presumably for Walter FitzGilbert and is accompanied by Gules, a chevron ermine between three cinquefoils for brother John (obit. 1328). “A sensible proposition is that they were kin, or vassals of the Umfraville lords of Redesdale and the earls of Angus” (Bruce A. McAndrew, Scotland’s Historic Heraldry, p. 235, 200). Robert Brus granted to Walter Fitz-Gilbert the whole tenement of Machan which belonged to John Comyn (nephew of Alexander). It was a medieval norm to grant lands of those disgraced to their loyal kinfolk.

(What is required is an an ability to discern sensible propositions from the chaff of improbability).

1.1.2.2.1.1. Johannis de Hameldun, fl. 1233-44, who is recorded in the records of St. Giles (Durham) as being closely associated with Gilbert Hansard – one of Bishop Puiset’s feudatories, who gave his whole vill of Aymundeston (Amerston, in the parish of Elwick) and fifty oxgangs in Hurtheworth (Hurworth) for the support of a chaplain to celebrate for ever in the chapel of the Hospital for the souls of himself, his father and mother, and all his kin. The Convent of Durham had property at Chyrton in Northumberland, which had been given by John de Hameldun for the support of three priests to celebrate for himself and his family on condition of his two brothers, Henry and Walter, being the firmarii feodarii, paying nine marks a year to the Convent. An exchange of these properties between the Hospital and the Convent had been proposed, but, after some contention, had fallen through, owing, apparently, to the Convent’s unwillingness to maintain the three priests on the terms proposed in the exchange. Eventually, however, through the action of Gilbert Hansard and Walter de Hameldun (the representatives of the two families whose souls were to be benefited), a composition was agreed to, one part of the conditions of which was that the Hospital should cede to the Convent certain land at Hurworth, together with twelve acres of “Southcroft ” near the city of Durham, producing altogether an annual revenue of three marks, which were to be devoted by the said Convent to pious uses through the hands of its almoner in a certain place for the benefit of the souls of the said John de Hameldun and of all the departed. Temp. Tho. Melsonby, Prior of Durham, 1233-1244. ‘Quit -claim by the Convent to the Hospital of Revenues in various placesin return for the cession by the hospital to the Convent of their lands at Amerston on condition of the hospital providing a chaplain at Keyper to sing for ‘the souls of the Hameldon and Hansard families’ (Printed in “Priory of Finchale,” Surtees Society, p. I27; cit. Memorials of St. Giles’s, Durham, Surtees Society xxx., ccxxxiv.).

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